Regenerative heat exchanger



United States Patent to General .Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application December :5, 1955, Serial No. 551,023 13 Claims. (31. 257-6).

This invention relates to heat exchangers and more particularly to regenerative heat exchangers of the type utilizing movable matrixes.

Various forms of regenerative heat exchangers have been devised wherein a movable matrix is disposed across adjacent conduits through an opening ther'ebetween to transfer heat from a high temperature pressure fluid in one conduit to a low temperature pressure fluid in the other. A common form of matrix comprises a plurality of laminae such as disks rigidly supported in spaced relation with each other. Seals are provided to engage the matrix laminae between the conduits to minimize fluid leakage across the seal but leakage is bound to occur and may attain considerable magnitude with resultant .ineificiency as each lamina requires an individual seal.

An object of the invention is to provide a regenerator wherein leakage between the conduits is reduced to a minimum without reducing the heat transfer effective- ;ness of a movable matrix.

The invention provides ,a regenerator having a movvable laminated matrix that spreads while passing through the conduits and collapses while passing through the seal to present maximum surface exposure in the conduits and minimum area in the seal. Leakage across the seal is held to a minimum as the laminae seal against each other in the seal eliminating individual seals for each lamina.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawing:

Figure l is an elevation, partially broken away to the plane indicated by the line 1-1 of Figure 2 of a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a section taken substantially on the plane indicated "by the line 22 of Figure 1-;

Figure 3 is a perspective of the regenerator of Figures 1 and 2 with the casing removed;

Figure 4 is a section of another embodiment of the invention taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line 4-4 of Figure 5; and

Figure 5 is a section taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3, a regenerator matrix is mounted on a drive shaft 12 in a casing 14 having a high temperature pressure fluid passage or conduit 16 and a low temperature pressure fluid passage or conduit 18. The matrix 10 comprises a plurality of stacked metallic laminae or disks 20 to 28 secured at their centers in face-to-face relation to the drive shaft 12. The disks are thin, highly flexible and flat in unstressed state. They are secured in face-to-face relation at their central portion only to permit flexing away from each other, as shown in Figure 3. The casing walls 29 and .31 are substantially spherical and concentric with the disk F me centers. A generally rectangular casing opening 30 is provided between the conduits and sealing elements 32 to 42, of suitable bearing material, are secured in the ends and sides of the opening.

The stacked thickness of the disks is substantially equal to the spacing between the seals 36 and 4 2, and the spacing between the seals 32 and 34 is substantially equal to the diameter of the disks. The disks, accordingly, fill the opening between the conduits 16 and 18 that is defined by the seals and prevent fluid leakage.

The drive shaft 12 and matrix 10 are supported for rotation by bearings 48 and 50. The disks are forceably separated from each other in the conduits 16 and 18 by projections 52 and 54 formed on the walls 29 and 31 and create 'a plurality of pressure fluid conduit passages 56 and 58 that provide direct heat transfer to each face of each disk. The localized rotational spreading of the discs is possible because of their great flexibility and the action is analogous to the localized bending that takes place when the periphery of a rotary sander disk forceably engages a surface.

The projections 52 and 54 are surfaced with a suitable bearing material to reduce friction and other ant-ifriction means, such as rollers, can be used as disk separators. Pressure fluid leakage between the conduits is reduced to a minimum as seals need only be provided for the outer surfaces of the outermost disks.

The modification shown in Figures 4 and 5 is similar to that shown in Figures 1 to 3 and prime reference characters are applied. The fluid conduits 16' and 18' are arranged transversely of the disks which are, accordingly, perforated over their entire surface to permit passage of the fluids. The perforations 60 are so noncon centrically arranged on the adjacent disks providing a tortuous fluid path through the disks.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been described fully in order to explain the principles of the invention, it is to be understood that modifications of structure may be made by the exercise of skill in the art within the scope of the invention which is not to be regarded as limited by the detailed description of the preferred embodiment.

We claim:

1. A regenerative heat exchanger comprising a casing having a pair of separate passages for separate pressure fluids and each having inlet and outlet ends and an opening connecting the passages between the ends, a matrix extending through the opening and into the passages including a plurality of matrix elements each having portions in the opening and passages, means for moving the matrix through the opening and passages to provide heat transfer between the fluids, the opening occupying portions of the elements being of such size when in local face-to-face contact as to fill the opening and prevent fluid transfer between the passages, means for plac ing the opening occupying portions of the elements in local face-to-face contact in the opening, and means for separating the passage occupying portions of the elements in the passages to allow fluid flow between the passage occupying portions of the elements whereby the matrix presents a minimum sealing area and a maximum heat transfer area.

2. A regenerative heat exchanger comprising a casing having a pair of separate passages for separate pressure fluids and each having inlet and outlet ends and an opening connecting the passages between the ends, a matrix extending through the opening into each of the passages including a plurality of flexible matrix elements, means for rotating the matrix to provide heat transfer between the fluids, the elements being of such size when in local face-to-face contact as to fill the opening and prevent fluid transfer between the passages,

' ments as they pass ing having a sure fluids and each having inlet and outlet ends and an means for placing the elements in local face-to-face contact as they pass through the opening, and means for separating the passage occupying portions of the elethrough the passages to allow fluid flow between the passage occupying portions of the ele- '''ments whereby the matrix presents a minimum sealing area and a maximum heat transfer area.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein the matrix elements comprise thin sheets.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein the matrix elements comprise thin, substantially imperforate sheets.

5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein the matrix elements comprise thin, highly perforate sheets.

6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein the matrix elements comprise thin disks.

7. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein the matrix elements comprise thin, substantially imperforate disks and the passages direct the pressure fluids along the opposite faces of each disk.

8. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein the matrix elements comprise thin, highly perforate disks and the passages direct the pressure fluids through the perforations in each disk.

9. A regenerative heat exchanger comprising a casing forming adjacent conduits and each having inlet and outlet ends for separate pressure fluids, a seal in the casing defining an opening connecting the conduits between the ends, a matrix extending through the opening into each of the conduits including a plurality of thin flexible disks, means for rotating the matrix to pro- 'vide heat transfer between the fluids, the disks being of such size when in local face-to-face contact where they pass through the opening as to fill the opening and prevent fluid transfer between the conduits, means for placing the disks in local face-to-face contact as they pass through the opening, and means for separating the disks in the conduits to allow fluid flow between the disks whereby the matrix presents a minimum sealing area and a maximum heat transfer area.

10. A regenerative heat exchanger comprising a caspair of separate passages for separate presopening connecting the passages between the ends, a laminated matrix in the opening and passages, means for moving the matrix through the opening and passages to prevent fluid transfer between the passages, portions of the the matrix laminae in the passage to allow fluid flow between the laminae whereby the matrix presents a minimum sealing area and a maximum heat transfer area.

' pass through the ing of such size when in local face-to-face contact where they pass through the opening as to fill the opening and prevent fluid transfer between the conduits, means for placing the disks in local face-to-face contact where they pass through the opening, and means for separating the disks in the conduits to allow fluid flow between the disks whereby the matrix presents a minimum sealing area and a maximum heat transfer area, the conduits being aligned with the disk faces so that the pressure fluids are directed along the faces.

12. A regenerative heat exchanger comprising a casing forming adjacent conduits and each having inlet and outlet ends for separate pressure fluids, a seal in the casing defining an opening connecting the conduits between the ends, a matrix extending through the opening into each of the conduits including a plurality of thin perforate flexible disks, means for rotating the matrix to provide heat transfer between the fluids, the disks being of such size when in local face-to-face contact where they pass through the opening as to fill the opening and prevent fluid transfer between the conduits, means for placing the disks in local face-to-face contact as they opening, and means for separating the disks in the conduits to allow fluid flow between the disks whereby the matrix presents a minimum sealing area and a maximum heat transfer area, the conduits being arranged transversely of the disk faces so that pressure fluids are directed through the perforations.

13. A regenerator matrix comprising a plurality of stacked flexible disks centrally retained in face-to-face contact with each other, the disks being otherwise unjoined and free to be peripherally flexed away from each other.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,606,666 Rider Nov. 9, 1926 1,741,225 Dyrssen Dec. 31, 1929 2,216,986 Roe Oct. 8, 1940 ,374,608 McCollum Apr. 24, 1945 2,681,761 Schlumbohm June 22,1954 2,774,655 Marullo et a1. Dec.,18, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 322,077 France Sept. 26, 1902 630,630 Great Britain Oct. 18, 1949 1,020,755 France Nov. 19, 1952 

